GB2164293A - Import resistant fuel tanks - Google Patents

Import resistant fuel tanks Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2164293A
GB2164293A GB08422048A GB8422048A GB2164293A GB 2164293 A GB2164293 A GB 2164293A GB 08422048 A GB08422048 A GB 08422048A GB 8422048 A GB8422048 A GB 8422048A GB 2164293 A GB2164293 A GB 2164293A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
tank
layer
fibre reinforced
walls
kevlar
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08422048A
Other versions
GB8422048D0 (en
Inventor
Mark Eastwood
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Motoplat SA
Original Assignee
Motoplat SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Motoplat SA filed Critical Motoplat SA
Priority to GB08422048A priority Critical patent/GB2164293A/en
Publication of GB8422048D0 publication Critical patent/GB8422048D0/en
Publication of GB2164293A publication Critical patent/GB2164293A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
    • B32B15/14—Layered products comprising a layer of metal next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B1/00—Layered products having a general shape other than plane
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
    • B32B15/04—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
    • B32B15/08—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
    • B32B15/092—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin comprising epoxy resins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
    • B32B15/20—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising aluminium or copper
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/34—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyamides
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/36—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyesters
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/38—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising epoxy resins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
    • B32B5/02—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer
    • B32B5/024—Woven fabric
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D37/00—Arrangements in connection with fuel supply for power plant
    • B64D37/02—Tanks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D37/00—Arrangements in connection with fuel supply for power plant
    • B64D37/32—Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2262/00—Composition or structural features of fibres which form a fibrous or filamentary layer or are present as additives
    • B32B2262/02—Synthetic macromolecular fibres
    • B32B2262/0261—Polyamide fibres
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2305/00—Condition, form or state of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2305/08—Reinforcements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2305/00—Condition, form or state of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2305/10—Fibres of continuous length
    • B32B2305/18—Fabrics, textiles
    • B32B2305/188—Woven fabrics
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2363/00—Epoxy resins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2367/00—Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2377/00—Polyamides
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2439/00—Containers; Receptacles

Abstract

A tank having a wall construction comprising an inner layer of aluminium, a second layer of epoxy resin, a third layer of glass fibre reinforced polyester resin, a fourth layer of kevlar fibre reinforced plastic material, an outer layer of glass fibre reinforced polyester resin and an outermost coating of a fire retardant material. The interior of the tank is filled with a lattice like material for preventing liquid stored within the tank from forming a mist, if the tank should be erupted.

Description

SPECIFICATION An improved tank construction Description This invention relates to an improved tank construction. In particular the present invention relates to a tank or container for holding a hazardous or flammable liquid. An example of such a tank or container is a fuel cell for accommodating a liquid fuel, such as a petroleum distil ate, located within the body of an air, sea or land vehicle.
In the event of a vehicle, such as a motorcar, being involved in an accident which results in the rupturing of a fuel cell located within the vehicle, there is a grave risk that any fuel spilt from the ruptured fuel cell will catch fire. In order to minimise this risk, fuel cells or tanks are not located where they would be exposed to damage in an accident. However, in a serious accident involving a heavy impact, wherever a fuel cell is placed in a vehicle it may still be damaged through being struck directly by a hard object, or through being crushed by the vehicle's structure, if the latter is caused to deform.
Accordingly in vehicles which are at greater risk to damage, such as racing and other competition cars, fuel cells with enhanced resistance to be rupturing are employed. For example whereas a fuel cell would conventionally comprise a hollow container formed from sheet metal, competition cars are often fitted with tanks which comprise a flexible bag formed from a plastics material and located within a hollow rigid box section, which forms part of the vehicle's structure. The fuel being located within the bag. In the event of an accident in which the box section containing such a bag tank is crushed or penetrated, the bag tends to be deformed rather than be penetrated itself. However the bag will eventually burst if it is crushed with sufficient pressure or impailed upon a sufficiently sharp object.Additionally bag tanks, unlike conventional sheet metal tanks, tend to degrade in use and may in time begin to leak fuel.
According to the present invention there is provided a tank or container, the walls of which comprise at least one inner layer of metal and one further layer of kevlar fibre reinforced plastics resin.
An advantage of a tank in accordance with the present invention is that, unlike a bag tank, it has a metal lining and therefore it does not degrade in use and thus is highly leak resistant. Furthermore the tank walls have enhanced resistance to penetration by sharp objects and may be subjected to considerable distortion, stress and strain before rupturing.
In an embodiment, the tank walls include at least one further layer comprising a glass reinforced plastics material, and preferably said walls have an outer coating of a fire resistant material. Such an embodiment has the further advantage that the additional layers of glass reinforced plastics serve to spread the load of any impact on the wall, and thus further enhance the tank's resistance to being ruptured. The fire retardant material serves to protect both the tank walls and contents of the tank from the effects of a fire immediately outside the tank.
Finally and in a preferred embodiment, the tank is filled with a lattice like structure for preventing a flammable liquid-within the tank from forming a mist, thereby reducing the risk of said liquid being ignited.
A particular embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawing.
The drawing shows a scrap sectional view through the wall of a tank in accordance with the present invention.
With reference to the figure, a tank wall comprises six layers extending outwardly from an innermost layer 2 through a second layer 3, a third layer 4, a fourth layer 5, and a fifth layer 6, to an outermost layer 7.
The innermost layer 2 is formed from aluminium, the second layer 3 is formed from epoxy resin, the third layer 4 is formed from glass reinforced polyester resin, the fourth layer 5 is formed from kevlar fibre reinforced plastics material, the fifth layer 6 is formed from glass reinforced polyester resin, and the outermost layer 7 is formed from a fire retarding polyester resin sold under the trade mark 'Crystic Fireguard'.
The interior of the tank is filled with a lattice like polyester material which is sold under the trade mark "Safom type 2". This material prevents fuel within the tank from forming a mist, and thus reduces the risk of an explosion if the tank is ruptured.
The second layer 3 of epoxy resin forms an additional seal in case of any pourosity in the innermost layer 2, and serves to bond the metal of layer 2 to the plastics material of the third layer. The reinforcing mat of glass fibres in the third layer 4 is a "chop strand" mat having a random orientation of fibres. The Kevlar reinforcing fibres in the fourth layer 5, are in the form of a woven mat comprising warp and weft fibres orientated at 90" to one another. The warp and weft of the mat are aligned differently in different parts of the tank walls, so as to give maximum strength to each particular part of each tank wall.The "Crystic Fireguard" material comprising the outermost layer 7, forms a carbonaceous foam when subjected to intense heat, such as that encountered during a fire, and thus in such circumstances forms a thermally insulating layer on the exterior of the tank wall.
In the manufacture of a complete tank, the aluminium innermost layer 2 is mechanically deformed and welded together around the "Safom type 2" filling material 1, to form the basic shell of the tank. The aluminium layer 2 is then coated with the epoxy resin forming the second layer 3, and the further layers 4, 5 & 6 of composite materials are then layed up in sequence. Finally the outermost layer 7 of "Crystic Fireguard" 7 is applied to give the finished tank.
"Kevlar" is a trade mark of the Du Pont Company and is used in connection with fibres formed from the aromatic polyamide, poly (1,4 -phenyleneterephthalamide). The term "kevlar" has been used in this specification to denote a fibrous material spun from poly (1, 4-phenyleneterephthalamide) or a substantially similar aromatic polyamide.

Claims (7)

1. A tank, the walls of which comprise at least one inner layer of metal and one further layer of kevlar fibre reinforced plastics resin.
2. A tank as claimed in claim 1 wherein the walls comprise at least one further layer of glass fibre reinforced plastics material.
3. A tank as claimed in claim 2 wherein the walls comprise an inner layer of aluminium, a second layer of an epoxy resin, a third layer of glass fibre reinforced polyester resin, a fourth layer of kevlar fibre reinforced plastics material and an outer layer of glass fibre reinforced polyester resin.
4. A tank as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the walls have an outermost coating of a fire retardant material.
5. A tank as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the tank is filled with a lattice which in use prevents a liquid from within the tank forming a mist, if the tank should be ruptured.
6. A tank as claimed in any of claims 3, 4 and 5 wherein the glass fibres are in the form of a mat having a random fibre orientation and, the kevlar fibres are in the form of a woven mat comprising warp and weft fibres orientated substantially orthogonally.
7. A tank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference and as shown in the accompanying drawing.
GB08422048A 1984-08-31 1984-08-31 Import resistant fuel tanks Withdrawn GB2164293A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08422048A GB2164293A (en) 1984-08-31 1984-08-31 Import resistant fuel tanks

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08422048A GB2164293A (en) 1984-08-31 1984-08-31 Import resistant fuel tanks

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8422048D0 GB8422048D0 (en) 1984-10-03
GB2164293A true GB2164293A (en) 1986-03-19

Family

ID=10566091

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08422048A Withdrawn GB2164293A (en) 1984-08-31 1984-08-31 Import resistant fuel tanks

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2164293A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2198099A (en) * 1986-12-03 1988-06-08 Daimler Benz Ag A fuel tank for vehicles
WO2000032394A1 (en) * 1998-12-01 2000-06-08 New Lake International Limited Tank lining

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1324898A (en) * 1970-06-23 1973-07-25 Monsanto Co Graphite-fibre-reinforced laminates
GB1342898A (en) * 1970-10-24 1974-01-03 British Aircraft Corporaton Lt Composite panels
GB1385119A (en) * 1971-10-22 1975-02-26 Rhone Poulenc Sa Non-inflammable lightweight laminates
GB1510860A (en) * 1975-01-02 1978-05-17 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Laminated container
GB1516150A (en) * 1974-09-20 1978-06-28 Nihon Soflan Chem & Eng Co Ltd Thermally insulated containers for liquefied gas
EP0056289A1 (en) * 1981-01-09 1982-07-21 Technische Universiteit Delft Laminate of aluminium sheet material and aramid fibres
EP0056288A1 (en) * 1981-01-09 1982-07-21 Technische Universiteit Delft Laminate of metal sheet material and threads bonded thereto, as well as processes for the manufacture thereof
GB2092950A (en) * 1981-01-21 1982-08-25 Scott Bader Co Composites and methods for providing metal clad articles and articles produced thereby

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1324898A (en) * 1970-06-23 1973-07-25 Monsanto Co Graphite-fibre-reinforced laminates
GB1342898A (en) * 1970-10-24 1974-01-03 British Aircraft Corporaton Lt Composite panels
GB1385119A (en) * 1971-10-22 1975-02-26 Rhone Poulenc Sa Non-inflammable lightweight laminates
GB1516150A (en) * 1974-09-20 1978-06-28 Nihon Soflan Chem & Eng Co Ltd Thermally insulated containers for liquefied gas
GB1510860A (en) * 1975-01-02 1978-05-17 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Laminated container
EP0056289A1 (en) * 1981-01-09 1982-07-21 Technische Universiteit Delft Laminate of aluminium sheet material and aramid fibres
EP0056288A1 (en) * 1981-01-09 1982-07-21 Technische Universiteit Delft Laminate of metal sheet material and threads bonded thereto, as well as processes for the manufacture thereof
GB2092950A (en) * 1981-01-21 1982-08-25 Scott Bader Co Composites and methods for providing metal clad articles and articles produced thereby

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2198099A (en) * 1986-12-03 1988-06-08 Daimler Benz Ag A fuel tank for vehicles
US4844278A (en) * 1986-12-03 1989-07-04 Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft Fuel tank for vehicles with fuel movement calmina arrangement
GB2198099B (en) * 1986-12-03 1991-07-10 Daimler Benz Ag Fuel tank for vehicles
WO2000032394A1 (en) * 1998-12-01 2000-06-08 New Lake International Limited Tank lining

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8422048D0 (en) 1984-10-03

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)